Creative WP-450 Wireless Bluetooth Headset

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CNET Editors' Rating

The GoodThe Creative WP-450 headphones are reasonably priced on-ear Bluetooth headphones with a built-in microphone for making calls and an 8-hour battery life. They offer comparably good sound quality for Bluetooth headphones.

The BadThe less expensive WP-350s may be more comfortable for some users; the on-ear design makes your ears steamy in warm weather.

The Bottom LineThe Creative WP-450s are good Bluetooth wireless headphones, but the step-down WP-350 model is a better deal.

7.0 Overall

Design6.0

Features7.0

Performance8.0

Review Sections

Creative has, according to our count, at least four wireless Bluetooth headphones in its current product lineup. The two top models, the WP-450 and WP-350, have very similar specs on paper but have different designs and prices.

I reviewed the WP-350 earlier this year and gave it a positive review, highlighting the fact that it delivers a lot of bang for the buck. That model can be found online for just less than $70 while the swankier WP-450 headphones (reviewed here) go for around $120.

The first thing you notice when you compare the two models is that the WP-450 seems to have the better design. Its earcups appear to be better padded and the headband also appears sturdier. The WP-350 folds flat while the WP-450 folds up. Neither ends up being all that compact in the folded state. Both come with simple protective carrying bags.

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The WP-450 folds up but not flat.
Sarah Tew/CNET

After trying each one on, I was surprised to find that I thought the WP-350 was the slightly more comfortable headset. For starters, it's a bit lighter and its headband has some padding on the top while the WP-450's doesn't. I suspect the WP-450 will hold up better over time, but it just felt like it was clamped a little too tightly to my head and it was a bit uncomfortable after about 20 minutes. Of course, people's heads and ears vary in size, as does comfort level from person to person. I did test the models out on a couple of other CNET editors; one found the WP-450 more comfortable while the other gave the slight nod to the WP-350.

Both models are on-ear (meaning they sit on your ear, instead of surrounding the ear). They're not as comfortable as competing on-ear wired headphones like the Bose OE2i or the Sennheiser HD 238i models, and my ears did get a little steamy on warmer days.

I was able to achieve a tight seal on my ears, and the WP-450 earcups do a decent job of shutting out the outside world (depending on your ear, you will probably get a tighter seal with the WP-450s than the WP-350s, but that's partially because they simply fit tighter on your head). I can't say I felt all that stylish wearing them, but they're attractive enough and are a notch up in the style department from the WP-350s. That said, they do extend out more from your ears.

While they offer a bit more flair than the WP-350s and look a little pricier, there's nothing terribly fancy about the WP-450 headphones.

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The buttons are well placed and easy to operate blindly.
Sarah Tew/CNET

The WP-450 headset has a slightly different button scheme than the WP-350 model has, but both are pretty well thought out. The volume button is conveniently placed on the inner lip of the right earcup along with the track forward/back button, so they're easily found by touch. You shouldn't have to fumble around or remove the headphones to raise and lower volume or answer and end calls, and, yes, there's a built-in microphone. Of course, if you're using a smartphone to stream audio, you'll most likely use the virtual buttons on the device rather than the hard buttons on the headphone to control audio playback.

As with most other models of Bluetooth headphones I've encountered, pairing your smartphone, tablet, or other Bluetooth-enabled device with the WP-450s is easy enough, though you'll run into an occasional snafu. Also, expect to have some dropouts now and again; that's par for the course for Bluetooth, which has a range of about 30 feet.

Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable e-reader and e-publishing expert. He's also the author of the novels Knife Music and The Big Exit. Both titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, and Nook e-books.
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